Do Hummingbirds Hum?: Fascinating Answers to Questions about Hummingbirds

EIGHT: Identifying and Photgraphing

EIGHT Identifying and Photographing Question 1: What is the best way to identify hummingbirds? Answer: Knowing the names of the hummingbirds you are watching can increase the enjoyment of observing them and may lead you to ask questions and learn more about the species in the area. If you are living in or visiting the United States or Canada, your task is far easier because there are only around twenty common species in North America (see table 1). In Mexico , Central America, or South America there are hundreds of species and identification can be much more difficult. The males of most species are so colorful that it is relatively easy to identify them if you can get a good view for long enough to remember or write down their color patterns. In about 30 percent of hummingbird species there is no sexual dimorphism , that is, the sexes look alike externally. There are some species in which both sexes are drab (most hermits and a few trochilids), without bright colors or conspicuous patterns, and for these you will have to take note of the size, shape, and color of the bird’s bill, as well as less conspicuous differences in plumage color and patterns. Several general bird identification guides that include hummingbirds and a few that specialize in hummingbirds have been published in North America. We recommend the hummingbird guides by Steve Howell and Sheri Williamson (see appendix D). A good field guide should include the resident hummingbirds with Table 1. Hummingbird Species Documented in North America Species Relative abundance north of Mexico Locations where most birds have been documented* Habitat Green Violet-ear Accidental Mexico; TX, AR Woodlands Green-breasted Mango Accidental Mexico; TX Forest edge Cuban Emerald Accidental Cuba; FL Woodlands Broad-billed Common Mexico; AZ, NM, TX, LA, CA Woodlands White-eared Rare Mexico; AZ, NM, TX Coniferous forest Xantus’s Accidental Baja CA; CA Desert scrub Berylline Rare Mexico; AZ, TX Woodlands Buff-bellied Common Mexico; TX, LA, MS, AL, FL Coastal tropical forest Cinnamon Accidental Mexico; AZ, NM Coastal scrub Violet-crowned Uncommon Mexico; AZ, NM, TX, CA Sycamore forest Blue-throated Common Mexico; AZ, NM, TX, CO Mountain riparian forest Magnificent Common Mexico; AZ, NM, TX, CO Woodlands Plain-capped Starthroat Rare Mexico; AZ Desert scrub Lucifer Uncommon Mexico; AZ, NM, TX Dry woodlands Bahama Woodstar Accidental Bahamas; FL Open woodlands Ruby-throated Abundant All of eastern US west to prairies, north to southern Canada; Mexico Deciduous forest Black-chinned Abundant Western US east to prairies, north to BC, Canada; Mexico Deciduous woodlands Anna’s Common Mexico; CA, AZ, NM, OR Coastal scrub to mountain forest Costa’s Common Mexico; CA, AZ, NM, TX, NV Desert scrub Calliope Common BC and AB, Canada; WA, ID, MT, WY, CA, UT, NV, AZ, NM, TX; Mexico Coniferous forest Bumblebee Accidental Mexico; AZ Mountain coniferous forest Broad-tailed Common ID, MT, NV, WY, CO, AZ, NM, TX; Mexico Mountain coniferous forest Rufous Common Southern AK through BC and AB, Canada; WA, OR, ID, CA, AZ, NM, TX, Gulf Coast; Mexico Coastal rain forest Allen’s Common CA, AZ, Gulf Coast; Mexico Coastal, riparian 1998 Check-list of North American Birds. 7th ed. and updates through 2009. Washington , D.C.: American Ornithologists Union. * There are hundreds of scattered records of wandering birds not listed in this table. Table 1 Hummingbird Species Documented in North America, continued Species Relative abundance north of Mexico Locations where most birds have been documented* Habitat 124 DO HUMMINGBIRDS HUM? a map of their geographic range, show male and female of each species, and offer short descriptions of their plumage, of how they differ from similar species, of their voice, and of the habitat where they are most likely to be found. If you are interested in more detail, see the species accounts in the Birds of North America series listed in appendix D. Each account devotes twenty pages or more to summarizing what is known about one species, with tables and graphs and descriptions instead of photographs. Question 2: What features distinguish one hummingbird species from another? Answer: Characteristics to note when trying to identify hummingbirds include length and color of bill (upper and lower Figure 28. The back of the head of a juvenile male Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri, showing the pale tips of each feather that create a scaly appearance when viewed from a distance. These buff-back feathers...